(Warp) CD & 2LP
Yes, you’ve likely had enough of the onslaught of “HEY HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEW GRIZZLY BEAR!” fanfare recently, but jesus, Veckatimest is totally worthy of the racket. Yellow House was a beautiful, semi-life changing discovery for many & Veckatimest is a reaffirming release from Grizzly Bear, a group in a position that often spells “misstep” for so many bands like them. The opening jazzy smolder of “Southern Point”, followed up with the epic “Knife”-like “Two Weeks”, is an amazing way to get things cooking. What Veckatimest lacks from its predecessor — the eerie, lurking feeling that crept around Yellow House‘s duration — is replaced here with a steadfast attention to maximum hook value. “Cheerleader” & “While You Wait For The Others” also illuminate this record, but in all honesty, there aren’t weak tracks; Veckatimest has the natural ebb & flow dynamic that full length albums SHOULD have. Man these guys write sweet vocal lines.